Vending machine



.3 Sheets-Sheet l J. A. CRIMP VENDING MACHINE Fil'ed Aug. :50. 1930 Jan. 23

INVENTOR (bk)? fl. Cramp TORNEY VENDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 30, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR mya v ATTORNEY J. A. CRIMP VENDING MACHINE Jan. 23, 1934.

Filed Aug. 30, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR fa/71? fl Cramp ATTQRNEY Patented Jan. 23, 1934 PATENT oFFicE VENDING MACHINE John A. Crimp, Yakima, Wash.

Application August 30,

7 Claims.

be limited to any such definite and specific use but is applicable to all uses having similar conditions and problems. A coin operated and controlled r; mechanism is associated with the vending machine herein set forth, said coin mechansm constituting the subject matter of another copending application, filed of even date herewith, bearing Serial Number 478,927.

The ordinary vending machine of common practice design, is not adapted to dispense fruit such as apples, and at the same time have the display feature, for the reason that the articles .to be vended, in the case of fruit, are not of a uniform 1 size. Vending machines in common use for other articles are designed to handle articles of uniform size. The combining of these features, that is, ofthe capacity to handle articles of non-uniform size and at the same time display the articles,

I are not present in devices of common practice design.

A fundamental purpose of my invention is to provide a vending device which will dispense articles of non-uniform size and at thesame time 86 display the articles previously to their being dispensed.

Also, the present vending devices are not adapted to the handling of fruit for the reason that they are designed to handle articles which are 1 wrapped and of small weight, whereas fruit must, for practical reasons, be handled in unwrapped condition and therefore with no further protection than is provided by the skin of the article itself and an apple is of relatively great weight compared with the ordinary article vended and this weight makes the problem of its safe and uninjured delivery a particular problem; Therefore, a primary object of my invention is to provide a vending machine which will dispense fruit which i may be displayed with its natural coating and at the same time without injury to the fruit. This problem is also rendered more involved and connected directly to the further problem of guarding against pilfering of the fruit by reaching through the delivery outlet. This feature-is particularly important in connection with fruit because the article being vended, such as an apple or an orange is of the size of a human hand, and access to the interior part of the machine must be provided to some extent. Furthermore, not

1920. Serial No. 478,928

only is it desired to prevent pilfering, but it is necessary to provide against the actual touching of the apples so that the lawful purchaser may be assured of a sanitary article at all times.

Therefore, an object of my invention is to provide a vending machine that will meet these conditions.

A further problem is providing capacity for the machine where the articles are of non-uniform size. The ordinary pyramid form of hopper operates with some degree of success, but it is not proof positive against fouling of the machine, as fruit such as apples of irregular size will at times become keyed and therefore foul the machine and therefore such fouling of the machine directly injures the confidence of the public in operatingsuch devices, to the great injury of such method ofmerchandising goods. Therefore, positive operation is highly important. ,I provide capacity in my device by providing a plurality of chutes or receptacles open on the front side, so that the fruit is held in column form. .Accordingly, it becomes necessary that the fruit be drawn off. these various columns alternately in order that no one column of fruit may be higher than the others. Thus the purchaser does not gain the idea that there is any difference in the freshness of the fruit in the various columns. I therefore purpose providing a machine which, while having several columns of fruit, nevertheless the fruit from these columns will be withdrawn alternately and the fruit maintained at a substantial uniform level in all of the different receptacles. loaded from the top, the last fruit in is the last fruit. out.

Furthermore, it is important that a vending machine of the characterdescribed be adapted to dispense one or more articles for a single coin, and it is an object of my invention to provide a machine that may be readily adapted to deliver one or more articles or apples for a single coin.

Furthermore, in providing nmines of the character described, the manufacturing cost must be maintained at a minimum in order to make the machine inexpensive to the purchaser, and this is a further purpose of my invention.

The above mentioned general objects of my invention together with others inherent in the same, are attained by the device illustrated in the following drawings, the same being preferred exemplary forms of embodiment of my invention, throughout which drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts:

With my device, the fruit being Figure 1 is a front elevation of a vending machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same substantially on a broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view partly in section and partly in plan substantially on a broken line 3-3 of' Fig. 1;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are independent views partly in section and partly in elevation showing the article delivery mechanism and cam actuating means in three different operative positions;

Fig. 7 is a detached perspective View of a checking support;

Fig. 8 is a detached plan view of a delivery support;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view substantially on broken line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary elevation substantially on broken line 1010 of Fig. 3, showing by dotted lines a ratchet for preventing reverse rotation of a cam shaft; I

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale, with parts shown in elevation of coin actuated mechanism embodied in my vending machine;

Fig. 12 is a plan view illustrating an embodiment of the invention in which more than four delivery chutes are used;

I Fig. 13 is a plan view of aslug of well known form, having a hole in the center; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view showing means interposed between a cam shaft and coin operated mechanism for establishing a different gear ratio between said two parts.

In a suitable cabinet 13, receptacles 14, 14A,

. 14B, and 14C for receiving and guiding articles to be vended may be mounted, said receptacles each having a frontal slot 15 through which the fruit may be seen behind glass in the cabinet 13. Said receptacles and the mechanism associated I therewith are all of substantially identical construction and the following description of one of said receptacles will be understood to apply to all of the same and the detailed description will be related to receptacle 14.

The bottom end of the receptacle 14 is open and is preferably cut away on its forward side as at 16 to facilitate delivery of the articles therefrom. A shaft 17 extendscrosswise of the cabinet near the bottom of the receptacle 14 and to the rear side thereof and a delivery support 18 is pivotally mounted on said shaft 17 at the bottom of receptacle 14 and extends in a substantially horizontal position underneath the receptacle to receive and support the articles therein. The rear side of receptacle 14 is provided with an opening 19 near the bottom end through which the upper end of a bell-crank shaped checking support 29 is arranged to operate. The checking support 20 is also pivotally mounted on shaft 17 and the lower end 21 of said checking support is connected with a tension spring 22 which serves as means for resiliently urging the upper end of the checking support into the receptacle 14, that is, into the path of the descending articles to be vended. A padding member 23 of soft material such as rubber tubing is preferably secured to the upper end of the checking support 20 to form the contacting means with the articles to be vended to prevent injury thereof. The delivery I support 18 and the checking support 20 are both controlled by means including a transverse cam shaft 24 mounted substantially parallel to the said shaft 1'7 and provided with a plurality of pairs of cams, one for each receptacle 14, 14A, 14B and 14C. 1

enough to engage the trip lever 46.

The pair of cams for the receptacle 14 embodies a cam 25 contacting a pin 26 on an arm 2'7 which is rigid with the checking support 29, and another cam 28 for contacting a pin 29 on a rigid arm 30 on delivery support 18.

Suitable coin operated means hereinafter described are provided at one end of the cam shaft 24 for rotating the same and a ratchet wheel 31, see Fig. 19, is secured on the other end of said cam shaft 24 and is engaged by a pawl 32 to prevent reverse rotation of said cam shaft 24, said pawl being mounted on fixed pivot 33 and having spring means 34 urging it into engagement with ratchet 31. The coin operated means for turning the cam shaft 24 is more fully disclosed in my copending application hereinabove referred to. Preferably, this coin operated means, see Fig. 11, may comprise an inclined coin chute Bdregistering with slot means 36' on the front of the cabinet through which a suitable coin may be inserted. This coin chute 35 is inclined downwardly so that the coin will be directed into a coin receiving jaw 36 which is rigidly secured to disc members 37 which areidly mounted on a sleeve 38 which extends outwardly through one side of the cabinet and has an operating handle 39 fixedly secured thereto. A coin engaging member 40 is integral with or rigidly secured to the sleeve member 38, preferably between the discs 37, and has a pin 41 on its forward end which is adapted to engage with a coin 42 in the jaw 36 when the sleeve 38 is rotated to carry said jaw 36 and the discs 37 around with said sleeve 38 and coin engaging member 40. When no coin is present in the jaw 36 and the lever 39 is oscillated, the coin engaging member 40 will project into and through an opening 43 in the jaw 36 without operatively moving said jaw and the disc members 37, and thereby unlawful operation of the device prevented. Should a slug or chip 4'! of the well known type, having a hole in the center be inserted into the jaw 36, then the pin 41 will project through the hole in the center of said .chip or slug and oscillation of lever 39 throughout its entire stroke will fail to move the coin holding member formed by jaw 36 and discs 37 far enough to operate the delivery mechanism and deliver an article, since shoulder 44 will strike against the slug surrounding the hole portion therein. However, sufiicient movement of the jaws 36 is provided to cause an ejector mechanism 45 to engage with a trip lever 46 and discharge the slug from the jaw 36 and thereby render the device prepared to receive a proper coin and free to be operated in a lawful manner. In a similar manner the ejector member 45 will eject a proper coin 42 or any other flat disc-like device which may be lodged in jaw 36 whenever said ejector member is moved far However, in the case of a proper coin the ejection is timed to occur only after the delivery mechanism has been operated.

The coin engaging member 40 is retracted by a tension spring 48 which may be secured to the triplever 46 near the fixed pivot 49, on which said trip lever is mounted and which may thereby also serve to yieldingly hold said trip lever in elevated position. Another spring 50, adjacent said spring 48 is connected with the coin holding member formed in part by discs 37 to retract said coin holding member into the position shown in Fig. 11.

T The operating lever 39 being rigidly connected with the coin engaging member is also retracted by spring 43. Said operating lever 39 together with coin engaging member 40 are stopped by engagement of operating lever 39 with a combined bracket member and guide 51 on the exterior of the cabinet 13. The retraction of disc members 37 is stopped by a stop pin 52 on said disc members which engages with stop means 53 on frame piece 54. The cam shaft 24 extends through frame member 54 and fits telescopically within sleeve member or lever operated shaft 38, and said cam shaft 24 has a ratchet member 55 fixedly secured thereto and said ratchet member is engaged by a pawl 56 which is mounted on a pivot 57 on one of the discs 37 and urged against ratchet member 55 by a spring 58, whereby turning of the discs in one direction through the proper degree of are through the medium of lever 39 and coin engaging member 40 which engages coin in jaw 36,. will rotate the cam shaft into delivery position. When reverse rotation of discs 37 by the spring occurs the pawl 56 will ride idly over the ratchet and no rotation of the cam shaft 24 will occur, thus providing for rotating of the cam shaft in one direction only.

The mode of operation of the device embodying my invention is as follows, although it has been in part set forth and will be readily understood from the description given above.

The receptacles 14, 14A, 14B, and 140 are filled from the top with articles such as apples, which ates sleeve member or lever operated shaft 38 through the same are and likewise carries coin engaging member 40 with it and as pin 41 contacts coin 42, bridging the opening 43, coin holding member formed by jaws 36 and discs 37 is likewise moved through an arc and such movement of disc 37 carries with it the pawl 56 which in turn engages ratchet 55 which actuates cam shaft 24 to delivery position for one of the receptacles. As cam shaft 24 is thus actuated through ninety degrees, the cams for each receptacle 14,

14A, 14B and 140 are successively moved into delivery positions.

The cycle of movement of the cams 25 and 28 and the associated delivery support 18 and checking support 20 for a single receptacle 14 will now be described. Assuming that at the time of the moving forward of the lever 39 with the coin inserted in jaws 36, that the cams 25 and 28 and delivery support 18 and checking support 20 are in the position shown in Fig. 2, then the actuating of cam shaft 24 by means of lever 39 as already described, serves to cause cam 25 to release checking support 20 so that it moves forwardly and downwardly above the apples. Immediately thereafter cam 28 releases delivery support 18 so that it drops into position shown in Fig. 4. Checking support 20 thus has moved into position to support the column of apples thereabove, and the lowermost apple has been released for delivery tothe purchaser.

The checking support 20 also functions to eject the apple in its downward movement, thus guarding against any possible failure of the apple being delivered to the purchaser. It will be noted that this checking support may not, upon being released by the cam to move forward, go forward to its full extent as it is spring operated and it is thus in a position to eject the apple as soon as the delivery support is released, and only being held pressed against the apple does not cause injury to the apple. The

apple being released, rolls upon the delivery out let means consisting I of discontinuous curved wall 59 and 60, and then first contacting wall 59 and thereafter contacting wall 60, rolls to a position opposite opening 61 where it may be reached by the purchaser. In thus descending, it will be noted that the apple at all times is preferably supported by a wall and injury to the same is thereby prevented, as the apple makes no unsupported fall, and the tortuous route which it pursues prevents unlicensed reaching of the fruit in the receptacle 14 previous to delivery.

The next movement of the handle through ninety degrees brings cam 28 into. contacting position with respect to pin 29 of delivery support 18. In the meantime it will be understood that one of the other receptacles has delivered an apple.

The next movement of handle 39 through ninety degreescauses cam 28 to lift delivery support 18 into closed position, that is into position shown in Fig. 5, it being understood that an apple in the meantime has been delivered from one of the other receptacles.

The next movement of the handle 39 through an arc of ninety degrees causes cam 25 to engage pin 26 and positively withdraw checking support 20 so that it occupies the position shown in Fig. 6, in the meantime an apple being delivered from one of the other receptacles. Thus, the cams 25 and 28, with the associated delivery support 18 and checking support 20 of receptacle 14 are now in their original position, and the cycle for this given receptacle is completed. The corresponding cams and associated supports of .each of the other receptacles, namely 14A, 14B and 14C, it will be understood, pass through a similar cycle of positions to permit the delivery of an apple at each movement of the lever 39 through the arc of ninety degrees, it requiring four such movements of the lever to complete the cycle for any given receptacle.

It will be noted that the cam 28 elevates positively and holds or locks the delivery support 18 into supporting position so that any unlawful attempt to hold down this support by means of a bent instrument inserted through the outlet is foiled.

Furthermore, it will be noted that with a single coin mechanism my device provides for the successive operation of a plurality of receptacles, that is, a separate coin operating mechanism is not required for each receptacle.

Special attention is also directed to the point that the checking support 20 when in position shown in Fig. 2 is at the top of its arc path, and immediately upon being released, moves forwardly and downwardly, thereby providing for enteri move further than if the apple is of a largersize,

and in any event it sufiiciently enters across the path of the descending articles. to support the column thereabove and at the same time exerts a pressure upon the lowermost articleor apple to operate to insure its discharge when thedelivery support 18 is released. 7 i

It will be noted that the checking support 20 in my invention actually moves beneath the article or apple immediately above; the one in lowermost position. i

It will also be noted that ratchet 31 is held by pawl 32 against rotation in reverse direction with respect to the direction of movement imparted by lever 39.

The tension on spring 22 is adjusted by screws 62 and nuts 63, so that no injury is causedto the fruit, a lighter tension eing required for such delicate fruit as peaches as compared to apples or oranges.

Referring to the modified form shown in Fig. 12, the first receptacle or" a second set of four receptacles is shown and it will be understood that cam shaft 24 is extended to provide mounting means for cams as already described for the first set of four receptacles, the other associated parts being the same. By having a second set of four receptacles, it is manifest that the positions of the cams 25 and 28 for two receptacles may be identical so that for a single coin, such as a nickel, two apples may be dispensed and with a third set of receptacles, three apples for a given coin could be dispensed, etc.

Referring to the modified form shown in Fig. 14, any substantial amount of rotation may be imparted to cam shaft Ziby the interposition of suitable gear ratio mechanism, such as either gears, sprocket or link belt mechanism, between said cam shaft 24 and the coin operated and controlled mechanism. As illustratin one example of such gear ratio, a mechanism affording a 2 to 1 gear ratio is illustrated in the modified form of Fig. 14. Small gear (S i is keyed to shaft 24. Gear 64 meshes with idler gear 65 mounted on frame piece 54 and this gear mesheswith large gear 66 mounted on ratchet member 55. Obviously, if the teeth of the gear 54 is 16 and the number of teeth on gear 68 is 32, then cam shaft 24 will have twice the angular movement of the driving gear, and this gear ratio may be modified as desired. With the 2 to 1 gear rangement, it is obvious that without having a second set of four receptacles two apples may be dispensed for a given coin, such as a nickel.

Furthermore, the spacing of checking support 26 above the delivery support 18 may be also adjusted so that two or more apples may be permitted to be dispensed beneath the checking support 20 and dispensed with a single operation of the hand lever 39 for a single coin.

By providing for the successive operation of the receptacles, it is manifest that the iruit will be maintained at a substantially uniform level in all of the receptacles and thus the purchaser will not be led to feel that there is any advantage in obtaining fruit from any one receptacle, one empty receptacle obviously imparting a bad impression.

Obviously, any round package such as canned goods, or bottles, such as pop, also be dispensed by a device embodying my invention. While I have described my invention as applied to the more diilicult art of dealing with articles of non-uniform size, obviously without any change it may be applied to articles of uniform size of rectangular or other form. r

, The problem of merchandising agricultural products is recognized asone of the big problems in connection with such products. Obviously, the device embodying my invention is particularly adapted to facilitate such merchandising in a'most eihclent and economical manner. Not only does itprovide the purchaser with a sample of the product but it may also carry advertising matter indicating where the same product may be obtained in bulk form.

Obviously, changes may be made in the forms, dimensions and arrangement of the parts of my invention, without departing from the principle thereof, the above setting forth only preferred forms of embodiment.

I claim:

1. In a vending machine, the combination of a receptacle for receiving and guiding articles of substantially spherically non-uniform shape to be vended; a delivery support at the bottom of said receptacle for said articles to rest on; a checking support movable in an arcuate path into and out of the path of movement of said articles in said receptacle and positioned to initially engage the upper surface portion of the bottom-most article in the receptacle, whereby said checking support may be caused to follow the contour of the bottom-most article and to enter between adjacent articles to support the articles thereabove and leave the articles therebelowresting on said delivery support; resilient "means urging said checking support into the line of movement of said articles; and actuating means including cams engaging said two supports whereby said checking support and said delivery support may be successively released.

2. In a vending machine, the combination of a receptacle for receiving and guiding articles of substantially spherically non-uniform shape to be vended; a delivery support at the bottom of said receptacle for said articles to rest on; a checking support movable in an arcuate path into and out of the path of movement of said articles in said receptacle and positioned to ini-- tially engage the upper surface portion of the bottom-most article in the receptacle, whereby said checking support may be caused to follow the contour of the bottom-most article and to enter between adjacent articles to support the articles thereabove and leave the articles therebelow resting on said delivery support; resilient means actuating said checking support into the line of movement oi said articles, such resilient means permitting the extent of initial movement to be governed by the particular size of the individual article bottom-most in the receptacle; and actuating means including a cam operatively connected with said delivery support whereby said delivery support may alternately be moved to support the articles or released to discharge the articles and another cam operatively connected with said checking support, whereby said checking support is released by its said cam prior to the releasing of said delivery support and is retracted by its said cam after said delivery support has been moved to holding position, whereby spherically-like shaped articles of non-uniform size may be vended individually.

3. In a vending machine, the combination of a receptacle for receiving and guiding articles of substantially spherically non-uniform shape to be vended; a delivery support at the bottom of said receptacle for said articles to rest on; a checking support movable in an arcuate path into and out of the path of movement of said articles in said receptacle and positioned to initially engage the upper surface portion of the bottom-most article in the receptacle, whereby said checking support may be caused to follow the contour of the bottom-most article and to enter between adjacent articles to support the articles thereabove and leave the articles therebelow resting on said delivery support; devices yieldingly urging said checking support into the path of movement of said articles, said delivery support being free to move by gravity into a discharging position; and actuating means including a cam operatively connected with said delivery support, whereby said delivery support may alternately be moved to support the articles or released to discharge the articles and another cam operatively connected with said checking support, whereby said checking support is released prior to the releasing of said delivery support and is retracted after said delivery support has been moved to holding position.

4. In a vending machine, the combination of an upright receptacle for articles of substantially spherically non-uniform shape to be vended, said receptacle having an opening in one side; a movable delivery support at the bottom of said receptacle; a bell crank shaped checking sup-- port pivotally mounted adjacent the bottom of said receptacle below said opening, the upper end of said checking support being movable in an arcuate path into and downwardly in said receptacle through said opening, said checking support being positioned to initially engage the upper surface portion of the bottom-most article in the receptacle, whereby it may initially engage, follow the contour of and exert a downward pressure on articles therebelow and support articles thereabove; resilient means urging the upper end of said checking support into said receptacle; and actuating cams whereby both said checking support and said delivery support maybe moved.

5. In a vending machine, the combination of an upright receptacle for articles of substantially spherically non-uniform shape to be vended, said receptacle having an opening in one side above the bottom and being cut away on the opposite side at the bottom to form a delivery opening; a movable delivery support at the bottom of said receptacle; a bell crank shaped checking support pivoted to the side of said receptacle below said opening, the upper end of said checking support being movable initially in a descending arc through said opening initially engaging the upper surface portion of the bottom-most article in the receptacle whereby it may initially engage, follow the contour of and exert downward pressure on articles therebelow and may support articles thereabove; resilient means urging the upper end of said checking support into said receptacle and actuating cams whereby both said checking support and said delivery support may be moved.

6. In a vending machine for non-uniform, substantially spherically shaped articles; an upright receptacle for storing said articles one above the other; a selectively operable delivery support positioned at the bottom of said receptacle; and a checking support positioned above said delivery support and pivotally mounted adjacent the side of said receptacle, said checking support provided with resilient means urging said checking means in an arcuate path into and downwardly in said receptacle, and said checking support being positioned to initially engage the upper surface portion of the bottom-most article in the receptacle, whereby non-uniform, spherically shaped articles may be successively checked by said checking means, and whereby said checking support may be caused to progressively enter between nch-uniform articles, and to follow the contour of the upper surface portion of the said bottom-most article without injury thereto, and to urge downwardly the bottom-most article in said receptacle.

7. In a vending machine, the combination of a receptacle for receiving and guiding substantially spherically shaped articles of non-uniform size to be vended; a shaft mounted adjacent said receptacle; a delivery support for said articles at the bottom of said receptacle, said delivery support being pivotally mounted on said shaft; a bell crank shaped checking support for said articles positioned above said delivery support at a distance substantially equal to the height of the article to be vended at one operation, said checking support being pivotally mounted on said shaft; resilient means secured to said checking support whereby said support is urged in an arouate path into and downwardly in said receptacle; actuating means for said delivery support and for retracting said checking support comprising a second shaft having cam sectors mounted on said second shaft, one of said sectors being in operative engagement with said delivery support, and one of said sectors being in operative engagement with said checking support.

JOHN A; CRIMP. 

